WANDERERS (3-4-2-1).

NATHAN BAXTER…5.

Other than the occasional moment where he could have started the build quicker it was hard to pick major holes in his performance in a day he was rarely tested but picked the ball out of his net twice.

CHRIS FORINO…5.5.

If – and this is a big if – there was a positive to take from this 90 minutes, it was probably the way Forino slotted in on the right. Used the ball as well as anyone, stepped into midfield.

RICARDO SANTOS…4.

Magennis had the upper hand for the most part and his yellow card seemed to set the skids under Bolton’s brief moment of decent football in the first half. Not the worst, but food for the critics.

GEORGE JOHNSTON…4.5.

Showed a bit more fight, even if some of it was misplaced. Ultimately he struggled to contain Doyle and McMillan on Exeter’s right and won’t be pleased with the outcome.

JOSH DACRES-COGLEY…3.

End product is lacking too often at the moment for the wing-back, who gets himself into some superb positions with his athleticism but needs more composure.

GEORGE THOMASON…3.

Bossed the game against Shrewsbury but struggled to produce anything like the same performance here, looking spent for the second half.

JOSH SHEEHAN…3.

This system seems to have sapped Sheehan of his powers. Last season’s player of the year is suddenly struggling to get himself into games.

SZABI SCHON…3.

Almost turned into a forgotten man on the left. Hard to recall a moment he positively impacted the first half and was subbed early in the second.

KYLE DEMPSEY…3.

So many people were pushing for him to be included, which makes the lack of involvement all the more galling. Really didn’t make a dent in Exeter’s defence.

JOHN MCATEE…3.5.

Had a busy spell for about 20 minutes in the first half but otherwise chasing lost causes. Zero supply line from midfield.

DION CHARLES…3.5.

Ran plenty but Bolton simply couldn’t get him into the sort of positions where he could do damage. Considering the service he got in midweek, this was a crime.

Subs: Adeboyejo 4, 54 (for McAtee) – put himself around, but didn’t really improve things.

Matete 4.5, 54 (for Sheehan) – Got on the ball but it all seemed so rushed.

Osei-Tutu 5, 54 (for Schon) – Only sub that really improved things… But only just.

Collins 3.5, 65 (for Dempsey) – Should have scored. Feels like he is struggling at the moment.

Not used: Southwood, Matheson, Sharples-Ahmed.

Exeter City (3-4-1-2): Whitworth; Yfeko, Crama, Sweeney; Niskanen, Woods, Doyle, McMillan; Aitchison; Magennis, Alli.

Subs: Cole 60 (for Doyle), Richards 73 (for Magennis), Purrington 73 (for Aitchison), Cox 87 (for Alli).

Not used: McDonald, Fitzwater, Francis.

Referee: Ben Toner 6/10 – Did he give an even view of Exeter’s timewasting and gameplaying in the first half? Probably not. Did he crack down on Magennis’s shenanigans when he should have done? Absolutely not. But is he in any way to blame for Bolton’s underperformance? Nope.

Attendance: 22,086.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Chris Forino.

Positive were in extremely short supply but the former Wycombe man at least showed willing in his first league start for Bolton. He took the ball on, he fought to regain possession when necessary and though he will take little pride from the result, he was the best of a bad bunch.

MOAN OF THE MATCH – Wanderers went 2-0 down on 49 minutes and had another 41 to get themselves back in the contest. They tried to rush things, snatched at chances, made bad decisions. This was not the sort of performance an automatic promotion challenging side gives at home to Exeter City.

MAGIC MOMENT – Practically nothing on the pitch. The minute’s applause to Sven-Goran Eriksson was well-observed. We’ll go with that.

ATMOSPHERE 4/10 – Community Days can be odd affairs, lots of younger fans, even some folk who don’t often go to Bolton games taking advantage of the cheaper tickets, so the atmosphere can be slightly more sedate. In this case the regulars were unhappy, the non-regulars were disinterested, and the only people who could be heard throughout had travelled all the way from Devon. Boos were understandable.